New England Patriots Post-Draft Depression Thoughts & Observations

In weeks and months leading up the NFL draft a fan is overwhelmed with the possibilities of who their team might add. Everywhere you look there are prospects who would be exciting additions to the team, however once the draft is over you're left with a handful of draftees, a few of whom may be exciting, but the majority of whom are considered boring depth-adding projects.

The Pats are no different, even with 12 new members of the team added over draft weekend. Sure I'm excited about Patrick Chung, he was one of my favorite prospects leading up to the draft. And Darius Butler makes the third rookie CB in the last two years to join the team, hopefully he can make some plays.

Other than those two guys we probably won't see much out of the rest at least until 2010. Of course, that's still a good thing. Alot of teams won't see anything out of their draftees at all. At least with Belichick making the picks you trust a couple of them will contribute somewhere down the line.

So what does this all mean? I'm ready for the season to start and we've still got two and a half months left to go.

Some other thoughts, links and other BS:

Jim Donaldson of the ProJo writes the Patriots defense won't be that much better in 2009 than it was in 2008. I kind of find that hard to believe considering they were already at the bottom of the league in 3rd down conversions and passing touchdowns allowed. One thing is for sure, it will be a new guard defense. No more Hobbs, Harrison or Vrabel.

No one will believe it but Michael Strahan can actually act. If this new sitcom he just shot makes it to air people will be impressed.

The few Raider fan friends I know have talked themselves into liking their draft. Denial ain't just something that happens in the Oakland front office.

I really hope Pierre Woods is the next Lamarr Woodley.

I have to agree with the Pats buzz I've seen around the internets that Matthew Slater will have a hard time making the team this year. Too many players with return experience and Patrick Chung's arrival will eliminate him from the safety depth.

My early prediction for the starting defensive backfield: Meriweather, Sanders and Springs rotation at safety, Bodden and Wheatley on the outside, Wilhite on the inside and Butler working in as the dime back.

The wildcard of the OLB competition is Vince Redd.